Upcoming Events:
Friday April 22nd Earth Day Bike Ride- Cancelled due to weather, stay tuned...
Friday April 22nd May Lunch Order Forms Due
Monday April 25th SBAC Testing Begins
Friday April 29th NO SCHOOL
GREAT NEWS!!
Our Earthquake Kit Project has been 100% funded! WOW!!!!
A special message to everyone who helped us reach our goal:
Thank you so very much for your donation to our project, and for providing level 2 students with an amazing service learning opportunity. Because of your generosity, our students will now begin phase two of their project: creating the kits and the presentations.
In their presentations, students will share their research and discuss the need for earthquake preparedness kits. They will show other students what to do in case of an earthquake, and how to use the items in their kit. They will also teach fellow students how to create their own kit at home. Creative capacities will flourish and teamwork skills will bloom as our students collaborate on the culminating aspects of this project.
Yours is a gift that carries with it a unique leadership opportunity for our students that will extend out into the school community. Our students are thrilled and want to say, “Thank you! You Rock! 2-4-6-8- Who do we appreciate? Our Donors!!” We are celebrating the good news and can't wait to get started on the rest of this project!
Homework will be due on Thursday, April 28th:
Each week, homework is the following 3 parts:
1. Math: Complete at least 30 minutes of math practice per week-(more is recommended)
Suggested IXL skills for 3rd grade math practice:
- V.25 - V.26 Geometry Review
- X.1 Equivalent Fractions
- Y.1 Compare Fractions
Family Letter about 3rd grade fraction goals
Fraction activities to try at home
- Math Homework Worksheet Packet: Geometry Project Menu
- Geometry Skills Practice on Khan Academy
- IXL Geometry P.13-P.15
2. Writing:
- Reading Response Letter in Writer's Notebook. Parents! Please take a look at the directions for completing the Reading Response Letter (these can also can be found inside the front cover of the writing notebook.) Sentence starting ideas can be found on the last page of the notebook.
- NEW WRITING HOMEWORK OPTION: Students can TYPE their reading response and email it to:
[email protected] Title: Student Name/ Date - Students can get valuable keyboarding practice by typing their reading response letter each week. Please continue to proofread the letter and give feedback to your young writer. I recommend that students use Word or Pages to type/edit/save their work, and then cut and paste the finished response into the email. As you observe your kiddo typing, you will know if they need more "home-row" typing support. There are many free typing programs out there. Here are a few games/ websites to check out:
- http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/keyboarding_games.html
- http://www.abcya.com/kids_typing_game.htm
- https://www.typing.com/typinggames
3. Reading: Read for at least 20 minutes every night- track at home
State (SBAC) Testing
Level 2 students will begin state testing on Monday, April 25th. Testing is administered in the computer lab in short sessions, and students have the opportunity to work on the same test over multiple sessions so they can work at their own pace. Please help support your Puffin by:
- encouraging them to do their best
- making sure they eat breakfast and bring a snack
- helping them get plenty of sleep
- practice keyboarding skills
Our Week in Review:
Project
This week, we learned about medicinal herbs in the garden, and used them to make a healing balm that can be used for chapped lips, dry skin, burns, blisters or bug bites! Many of the plants that we think of as weeds turn out to be pretty useful. Enjoy!
Recipe:
- 1 part beeswax
- 2 parts organic coconut oil
- Wild garden herbs: fennel (bug repellent), thistle (muscle aches), dandelion (high in vitamins), plantain (bee stings and bug bites), yarrow (cuts), broad-leaved dock (blisters), and crimson clover (burns)
4th grade Math:
Current Topics:
Draw and identify lines and angles, and classify shapes by properties of their lines and angles.
Writing Workshop
We are now working on Bringing History to Life with our Biography Unit!
Your child has already selected a person and has begun to read about that person's life.
During this unit, students will:
- Conduct a short research project that builds knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
- Write informational text by teaching about a topic clearly and including facts, quotations, details, formatting and illustrations.
Our kiddos brainstormed the following list of important questions to guide their research:
- Where are when did they grow up? What was their childhood like?
- What obstacles did they overcome? How?
- What were their hobbies and interests? What about education?
- Why are they famous? What are their major accomplishments?
- How have they made an impact on the lives of others?
- Do they have a famous quote?
Ask your child to tell you what they have learned so far!
Reading Workshop:
Novel Study:
Students follow up sessions of focused, independent reading with a four part reflection. In their novel study journals, students list and define new words. They note examples of figurative language. They summarize the chapters they read, pose questions and make predictions about what might happen next in the story.
Literature circles:
These small group book clubs engage students in rich conversations about shared readings. Students can express their opinions, predictions, and questions about a text in a productive, structured way. Students take on specific group roles which are designed to develop reading, speaking, and thinking abilities.
Literature Circle Books we have finished:
- View From Saturday
- Bridge to Terabithia
- Holes
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School
- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Class Read Aloud
We are currently reading The Witches by Roald Dahl.